Lessons Learned At The Rodeo

July 15, 2019
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Jolyn Young

Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life, Rodeo

While driving into town a couple weeks ago, I saw a flyer advertising a rodeo at the local fairgrounds. I decided to sign up my two big kids for mutton busting and take all 3 of my offspring to the rodeo by myself, because I am insane. My husband would have helped wrangle our crew, but he was day working at a ranch 400 miles away. He offered a supportive “Good luck” over the phone, then waited for pictures of the wreck.

Grace (6) and Milo (3) started their adventure wearing swim suits and carrying their rodeo gear bags. Because all good rodeo cowboys carry a clean pair of underwear at all times.

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No wreck here – just a baby in a bounce house.

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Wait, that totally sounds like a wreck waiting to happen, doesn’t it? Yeah, he only crawled around in there until children that weren’t my own joined him.

Cool face painting, right? They wisely chose to only get painted after they went down the water slide 1,000 times.

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After splashing in the water to their hearts’ content, my kids changed their clothes in the back of my car like real rodeo bums. Then they mutton busted. Then we ate nachos. Then one cried. Then another one fell asleep. But, there weren’t any wrecks!

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Here’s what they (we) learned from our night at the rodeo.

Don’t be afraid to take all your children to a rodeo by yourself.
Actually, it’s okay to be afraid, but do it anyway, because it’s totally worth it. Even if you feel like a wreck the next morning.
My big kids learned to take off their cowboy hats during the National Anthem.
They also learned to bow their heads when a prayer is said over the loudspeaker.
We all learned that no one in our family can use the restroom at the same time. We (they) prefer 3- to 13-minute intervals, thus ensuring that at least half of our time was spent within a 50-foot radius of the bathroom.
It’s okay – beneficial, even – to let the kids stay up way past bedtime once in a while, eat ice cream for dinner, and look at the stars.
Good friends show up when you need them the most, even if you didn’t think you needed them. When I was holding the baby while waiting for the big kids to ride their sheep, I wondered how I would help them in the chute. Suddenly, an arm appeared over my shoulder and our friend Jan’s voice said “Hi, need some help there?” And I totally needed help.
Getting out of the house and visiting with other adults is good for a SAHM, and watching some rodeo action was a pretty good bonus, too.
The kids learned their new favorite frozen treat is a RocketPop, which is a big popsicle with an ice cream center. The baby learned he wants to like ice cream, but it is too cold and makes him cry.
I learned I really, REALLY hope my husband is home for our next rodeo outing. Because holy moly – I went to college in Chico, CA, where the weekends start on Tuesday, and it still took me two days to recover from single parenting my crew at one kid-friendly public event.